Newspaper: Ohio used donations for budget

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state bridged a budget gap by dipping into money donated to fight blindness and to encourage people to become organ donors, a newspaper reported.

As it struggled to make up a $1.9 billion shortfall before the end of a two-year budget cycle in June, the state took $2.7 million from two funds supported by $1 contributions from motorists when they apply for or renew an Ohio driver license, the Columbus Dispatch reported in its Friday editions.

Asked about the transfer of $1.4 million from the Save Our Sight Fund, Gov. Ted Strickland told the newspaper, “That is not something I was aware of. I will find out why that has occurred, and it will be corrected.”

The fund is used for efforts to prevent eye injuries and blindness in children.

The administration also will return $1.3 million to the Second Chance Trust Fund, which promotes organ and tissue donations, said Keith Dailey, a spokesman for the governor.

A bill passed by state lawmakers last year gave the administration the ability to move into the state’s general operating account money from so-called “rotary funds” amassed through fees and donations. About 70 rotary funds were tapped for a total $120 million put toward balancing the budget by a June 30 deadline.

Dailey said the childhood- blindness and organ-donor funds are among a very small number of rotary funds supported through voluntary contributions. Another goes toward the operating budgets of the state Republican and Democratic parties and receives its money from a $1 check-off on Ohio income tax returns.

No other contributed funding was transferred as part of the budget process, Dailey said.

“Unfortunately, two funds, Save Our Sight and the Second Chance Trust Fund, were caught up in those transfers that, in hindsight, should not have been,” he said Friday.

Advocates were relieved to hear the money would be restored.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Sherill K. Williams, president of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “The public expects state government to keep its promises.”

Gordon Bowen, CEO of Lifebanc, said officials at the organ procurement agency for 20 Northeast Ohio counties were shocked and dismayed when they recently learned of the redirected funding.